Jobstown trial: Detective Inspector tells court he didn't mention teenage accused in original statement as there were hundreds of people around

The 17-year-old boy denies falsely imprisoning the former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell in two garda cars during the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in Tallaght, on 14 November 2014.

A detective inspector has told the Jobstown trial that he didn't mention the teenage accused in his original statement because there were hundreds of people around.

The 17-year-old boy denies falsely imprisoning the former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell in two garda cars during the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in Tallaght, on 14 November 2014.

The hearing resumed today for its third day at the Dublin Children’s Court where Judge John King was shown footage of the Jobstown protest obtained from YouTube, RTE and a garda 4X4 which had been carrying the former Labour leader and her advisor.

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In cross-examination with Giollaoisa O Lideadha SC, defending, Det Inspector Maguire said he did not mention the teenage defendant in his original statement as there were hundreds of people around at the time.

He agreed that in parts of the footage, some protesters were calling on the crowd not to throw things.

The court also heard the teenage defendant may have said into the megaphone at one stage: “Joany in your ivory tower – this is called people power."

The DI agreed that it was a reasonable proposition that when the boy was seen holding his hands up, this was consistent with encouraging others to do the same.

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He said officers had been protecting the two cars from being attacked and that they weren't in a position to use physical force because they were outnumbered.

Yesterday he had told the court it was like a “rugby maul” when he tried to escort the then Tanaiste and her advisor through an angry crowd.

The former Labour leader and Social Protection Minister had been attending a graduation event at 11.30am at An Cosan adult education centre.

It is alleged trouble broke out and she and her entourage were trapped in cars surrounded by protesters for about three hours.

Prosecution barrister Tony McGillicuddy has said that the prosecution case is that the former Tanaiste and her advisor were detained by the actions of the teenage defendant in conjunction with the actions of others.